Wireless telephone service subscriber call routing method

Abstract

In a method of routing a call to a wireless telephone service subscriber entitled to the call routing service, the subscriber is assigned a numbering plan number. The number of the nearest fixed station is determined. The number of the nearest fixed station is written into the database of a service control point serving the subscriber. For each call to be routed, the nearest fixed station number is read from the database of the service control point. A word identifying the telephone is then sent to the fixed station designated by the nearest fixed station number. This fixed station then sends at least one call message containing the word identifying the telephone of the subscriber and the number of the fixed station. The call message is received by the telephone of the subscriber, the word identifying that telephone is recognized and the subscriber is alerted. A call is set up between the subscriber and the fixed station by sending from the subscriber's telephone to the fixed station a response message containing the word identifying the telephone and the number of that fixed station.

There is claimed: 
     
       1. Method of routing a call to a subscriber to a wireless telephone service network including a distribution network having fixed stations and wireless digital telephones linked to said fixed stations by radio an integrated services digital public switched telephone network to which each of the fixed stations is connected by one or more circuit switched telephone channels and a message mode switched user to user signaling channel, service control points connected to said public switched telephone network and each containing a wireless telephone subscriber database and a call processing logic device, and a service management system containing a reference database, said method comprising, for each subscriber entitled to call routing services, the steps: assigning that subscriber a number from a public switching telephone network numbering plan;   determining a primary fixed station number designating a fixed station deemed to be nearest the subscriber;   writing the primary fixed station number into the database of a service control point serving said subscriber in association with said numbering plan number and a word identifying the telephone of said subscriber; and, for each call to be routed to a called subscriber, the additional steps:     reading from the database of the service control point serving said subscriber, said primary fixed station number and said word identifying said telephone of said subscriber;   sending said word from said service control point to the fixed station designated by said primary fixed station number over a link of said user to user signaling channel of said primary fixed station and then freeing said link;   sending from said fixed station at least one call message containing said word and said primary fixed station number;   receiving said call message in said telephone of said subscriber, recognizing said word identifying said telephone and alerting said subscriber; and   setting up a link between said subscriber and said fixed station by sending from said telephone of said subscriber to said fixed station a response message containing said word identifying said telephone and containing said primary fixed station number.   
     
     
       2. Method according to claim 1, further comprising the step: determining and then writing into said database of said service control point serving said subscriber at least one subsidiary fixed station number designating a subsidiary fixed station likely to be that nearest said subscriber if the subscriber is not near the primary fixed station designated by the primary fixed station number; and, if the called subscriber does not respond to call messages sent by the station designated by said primary fixed station number, the additional steps:     reading from said database of said service control point each subsidiary fixed station number;   sending to each subsidiary fixed station designated by a respective said subsidiary fixed station number, said word identifying said telephone number of said subscriber from said service control point over said user to user signaling channel connecting said each subsidiary fixed station to said network; and   sending simultaneously via each of said subsidiary fixed stations at least one call message containing said word identifying said telephone and said number of said fixed station sending said message.   
     
     
       3. Method according to claim 2, further comprising, to determine said nearest fixed station number and at least one subsidiary fixed station number, the additional step: determining a nearest fixed station subscription agreement number and at least on subsidiary fixed station subscription agreement number by the operator of said wireless telephone network when said subscriber enters into a subscription agreement.   
     
     
       4. Method according to claim 2, further comprising, to determine the nearest fixed station number and at least one subsidiary fixed station number, if any, after said subscriber moves into an area that is not predefined and is covered by one or more fixed stations, the additional steps: sending from said telephone of said subscriber to said service control point serving said subscriber via a fixed station near said subscriber a message requesting determination of a temporary nearest fixed station number and at least one temporary subsidiary fixed station number, if any;   adding to said message when it passes through sad fixed station a number designating said fixed station;   authenticating the telephone which sent said message;   writing the number of said fixed station into said database of said service control point associated with said numbering plan number and said word designating said telephone of said subscriber to constitute said temporary nearest fixed station number;   reading a table of said database of said service control point to determine at least one number designating a fixed station near said fixed station deemed to be that nearest said subscriber;   writing into said database of said service control point each number read from said table in association with said numbering plan number and said word designating said telephone, each number read constituting a temporary subsidiary fixed station number; and   predefining and then writing into said database of said service control point a temporary number expiry date and time associated with said numbering plan number and said word designating said telephone; wherein said step of reading said nearest fixed station number further comprises the steps:     reading a subscription agreement nearest fixed station number and said temporary nearest fixed station number and said temporary number expiry date and time; and   adopting as said nearest fixed station number said temporary nearest fixed station number if said expiry data and time have not been passed, otherwise adopting said subscription agreement number; and said step of reading said one or more subsidiary fixed station numbers further comprises the steps:     reading at least one subscription agreement subsidiary fixed station number and each said temporary subsidiary fixed station number and said expiry date and time; and   adopting as a subsidiary fixed station number each said temporary subsidiary fixed station number is said expiry date and time have not been passed, otherwise adopting each said subscription agreement subsidiary fixed station number.   
     
     
       5. Method according to claim 4, further comprising, to determine said expiry date and time of said temporary fixed station numbers, the additional steps: entering a time period via the dialing keypad of said telephone of said subscriber after requesting determination of temporary fixed station numbers;   transmitting said time period from said telephone of said subscriber to said service control point; and   determining said expiry date and time of said temporary numbers from said time period.   
     
     
       6. Method according to claim 4, further comprising, to determine said expiry date and time of said temporary fixed station numbers, the additional steps: setting a uniform expiry time period for all subscriptions; and   calculating said expiry date and time of said temporary fixed station numbers for each subscription according to said uniform time period and the time at which said temporary numbers are determined.